Edward Jones tops list again

Edward Jones, which has two locations in Craig — including the office pictured here at 555 Breeze St., recently was named the top company to work for in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine and the Colorado State Council of the Society of Human Resources. It’s the fifth time the company has earned the honor since the rankings debuted in 2006.

Edward Jones, which has two locations in Craig — including the office pictured here at 555 Breeze St., recently was named the top company to work for in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine and the Colorado State Council of the Society of Human Resources. It's the fifth time the company has earned the honor since the rankings debuted in 2006.Mary Austin

It's becoming somewhat of an annual tradition, but those at Edward Jones said that doesn't make it any less sweet.

The company, which offers financial advising from offices throughout the country, was listed as the No. 1 company to work for in Colorado by ColoradoBiz magazine and the Colorado State Council of the Society of Human Resources.

It's the fifth time the company has earned the honor since the rankings debuted in 2006. It's never finished outside the top two.

The news doesn't come as a surprise to the company's two Craig branches.

"We are an employee owned company and we're not having to structure ourselves to a board of directors that wants to drive for profits and raise our stock price," Craig Edward Jones associate Doug Davis said. "We take that responsibility to each other and to our clients real seriously. Consequently, we care a lot about our company, our organization and our ability to serve people."

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The rankings were based largely on anonymous employee surveys. There were 30 businesses selected, 10 each in small, medium and large classes. Edward Jones was atop the large standings, ahead of No. 2 Omni InterLocken Resort and No. 3 PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Bryan Ludgate also operates an Edward Jones shop in Craig.

Davis, who runs his branch with wife Patty Davis, said his longevity says it all. He's been in the office 25 years and she has been there 20.

"We enjoy where we work and the people we work with," he said.

New archery shop takes aim in Craig

Allen Jenkins has big plans for Sand Springs Archery, the Craig business he opened up at 80 E. 4th about a month ago.

He said he hopes to play host to archery shoots, become a certified instructor and even facilitate indoor shooting.

That's all in the future, however. For now, he's just happy people are coming through the doors of his brand new business.

"It has definitely been good so far," he said. "People are coming by."

Jenkins, a Craig native, has long hunted the backcountry in Moffat County, but said he only got into bow hunting about five years ago.

"I like the challenge of it," he said of setting out with a bow. "It brings a whole new aspect to hunting."

He said he used to do a little work for friends and they encouraged him to start up his own shop. Now Sand Springs Archery is open as a Precision Shooting Equipment dealer. The business sells bows, arrows and accessories. Jenkins offers repairs, replaces strings and sets sights.

"I do just about anything that needs done to a bow," he said.

He realizes the life of a shop owner could mean some sacrifice. It's only a part-time gig at this point as he's still working full time elsewhere. He said he's open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on his days off, but those can change, so the best bet is to look for his 3D target deer on the sidewalk.

He's anticipating a good fall hunting season, and even accepts the fact that he may have to curtail his own days hunting to facilitate his shop.

"I always wanted to open a business but there was never anything I particularly liked," he said. "With archery, it's good."

Entrepreneur classes slated in Hayden

The Colorado Rural Development Council is playing host to a local entrepreneurship day starting at 9 a.m. Friday in Hayden.

The event will include lectures on the basics of writing a business plan, the relationship between an entrepreneur and a banker, and "The Entrepreneurial Mindset."

The event costs $25 and is at the Hayden Granary at 198 E. Lincoln.

Speakers include Dave Fleming from Yampa Valley Bank, Randy Rudasics from Colorado Mountain College and Marilynn Force, the educational consultant to the John J. Sullivan Char in Free Enterprise helping to build entrepreneurship.

Registration runs from 9 to 9:45 a.m., followed by a welcome and the first of three hour-long presentations beginning at 10 a.m.